تَأَيَّيتُ مِنهُنَّ المصيرَ فَلم أَزَل

تَأَيَّيتُ مِنهُنَّ المصيرَ فَلم أَزَل

أُيَسِّرُ طِرفاً ساهِمَ الوَجهِ فارِعا

أُيَسِّرُ طِرفاً ساهِمَ الوَجهِ فارِعا

I resolved to depart from them, and never ceased

I faced destiny, yet I did not cease

preparing a noble steed, lean-faced and tall.

To soothe the glancing eye of the startled fawn

تَرَبَّيتُهُ لَم أَلهَ عَن ثَغَباتِهِ

تَرَبَّيتُهُ لَم أَلهَ عَن ثَغَباتِهِ

فَتُبِصرُهُ عَينٌ إذا شيرَ ضائِعا

فَتُبِصرُهُ عَينٌ إذا شيرَ ضائِعا

I reared him, never neglecting his needs,

I raised him when young, not chiding his caprices

lest any eye see him neglected when displayed.

So an eye might see him when straying, forlorn

فذلّقتُهُ حتى ترفَع لحمَهَ

فذلّقتُهُ حتى ترفَع لحمَهَ

اداويهِ مكنونا واركب وادِعا

اداويهِ مكنونا واركب وادِعا

So I conditioned him until his flesh drew taut,

I trained him until his flesh was lifted up

tending him sheltered, and riding at ease.

Nursing him secretly, riding him far and wide

فصَافَ يُفَرِّي جُلَّهُ عَن سَراتِهِ

فصَافَ يُفَرِّي جُلَّهُ عَن سَراتِهِ

يَبُذُّ الِجيادَ فارِهاً مُتَتايِعا

يَبُذُّ الِجيادَ فارِهاً مُتَتايِعا

He passed the summer, tearing his blanket from his back,

He shed his coat, his dapples all exposed

outstripping fine steeds, spirited and headlong.

Charging the stallions, pressing on side by side

فآضَ كَصَدر الرُّمحِ نَهداً مُصَدَّراً

فآضَ كَصَدر الرُّمحِ نَهداً مُصَدَّراً

يُكَفكِفُ مِنهُ خُنزُواناً مُنازِعا

يُكَفكِفُ مِنهُ خُنزُواناً مُنازِعا

He became like a spear’s forepart, powerfully built and broad-chested,

His chest swelled like the spearhead raised for war

his proud, resisting spirit held in check.

Shaking off bells with a challenging, stubborn pride